I have new 64 3G iPad. I'm in an airport now and in settings it says I'm connected to free wifi. The top left of my display shows AT&T. 3G. That tells me I'm paying for air time? How do I confirm wifi?

It's probably a captive portal, and you will not get on WiFi till you login properly or agree to the terms and conditions.

Try forgetting that WiFi network then reconnecting. You should get a login prompt soon after connecting. If not go to Safari and open NEW page, and try doing a quick google search. It should take you to login page and once you agree you should be good to go.

But if not, and it says 3G, as already stated, you are on 3G and the data meter is ticking.

If he's in an airport with wifi and his AT&T 3g is showing he is still using data isn't he??? That's why I said to turn off the 3g altogether just in case it chose 3G instead of wifi. Maybe he has to choose which wifi he wants to use in the airport and until he does it will stay connected to the 3G. I have had that experience many times.

If he's in an airport with wifi and his AT&T 3g is showing he is still using data isn't he??? That's why I said to turn off the 3g altogether just in case it chose 3G instead of wifi. Maybe he has to choose which wifi he wants to use in the airport and until he does it will stay connected to the 3G. I have had that experience many times.

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Of course he is still using data when it says 3G. But turning it off has nothing to do with making WiFi work--it will only cause him to have no connection at all.

Again, the iPad will always choose WiFi, if a viable connection is available, before using 3G.

He probably was on a WiFi network using a captive portal and it never authenticated him. That scenario exactly matches what he described: Settings show iPad is connected via WiFi but status bar shows 3G. That means it is connected to the WiFi network but Internet is not available on WiFi.

That is because the WiFi network won't let you on the 'net till you authentic, login, accept terms and conditions, etc.

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